The 4th Annual May Day Waikikī, presented by the Hawai‘I Tourism Authority (“HTA”), will take place on Monday, May 1, 2017, from 3-5 p.m., on Waikīkī Beach, fronting the Royal Hawaiian Hotel and the Outrigger Waikīkī Beach Resort. The event is free to the public and features a program to honor the legendary Waikīkī Beachboys, a helicopter flower drop, and exciting entertainment by Henry Kapono & Friends – Johnny Valentine, Alx Kawakami, Blayne Asing, and Robi Kahakalau, plus hula dancers, and more! The emcee will be another Waikīkī legend, Kimo Kaho‘āno.

Established in 2014, May Day Waikīkī was created to celebrate the colorful history and traditions of Waikīkī, including surfing, canoe rides and Hawaiian music and culture.

One of the main highlights will be a special presentation to our 2017 Waikīkī Beachboys honorees: William Moku Kamaka, the late Blue Makua Sr., Blue Makua Jr., Kimo Makua, John Makua and Violet Makua. Some honorees and their family members will be in attendance. We invite the public to bring lei to congratulate them and thank them for their contributions to surfing and keeping the aloha spirit alive in Waikīkī and around the world.

In addition, at 5 p.m., there will be a special helicopter flower drop and a moment of silence to remember those who have had their ashes scattered off Waikīkī Beach. Family and friends are welcome to bring their own flowers or lei for scattering, as well.

The program will continue with the best concert on Waikīkī Beach, featuring Henry Kapono & Friends – Johnny Valentine, Alx Kawakami, Blayne Asing, and Robi Kahakalau.
• Henry Kapono, vocalist, guitarist, songwriter, and composer, is one of the most popular and highest-selling local recording musicians of all time, and his weekly “Dukeʻs on Sundays” gig at the Outrigger Waikīkī Beach Resort is always filled with both kama‘āina and malihini, alike.
• Johnny Valentine has spent most of his life performing in Waikīkī and has become one of the most sought after performers in the islands.
• Alx Kawakami tours Japan, Hawai‘i, and the U.S. mainland as a solo artist as well as with his family band, MānoaDNA, and has released six total albums with over 40 original compositions.
• Blayne Asing won the 2016 Nā Hōkū Hanohano Award for “Most Promising Artist,” and his recordings are currently enjoying heavy airplay on Hawai‘i radio stations.
• Robi Kahakalau, affectionately known as “Sistah Robi,” blends Hawaiian, pop, reggae, folk, jazz and R&B music, along with her fluency in multiple languages, for a unique style that has made her a popular performer since her debut in the 1990ʻs as a member of the Hawaiian Style Band.

ABOUT MAY DAY WAIKĪKĪ
May Day Waikīkī was created in 2014 by the Hawai‘I Tourism Authority. Consistent with HTA's Hawaiian Cultural Initiative, this event is part of a larger effort to highlight the talent and traditions of local Hawaiian treasures, musicians, artists and dancers, broaden Lei Day festivities, and boost tourism.
Facebook/Instagram/Twitter: @MayDayWaikiki

ABOUT THE WAIKĪKĪ BEACHBOYS
The Waikīkī Beachboys are a legendary group of Hawaiian watermen who worked on the beaches of Waikīkī from the 1920s to the 1950s when tourists started traveling here for long vacations. Many of these travelers would develop friendships with the Beachboys who would teach them how to surf, take them on canoe rides, and share the Hawaiian culture and aloha spirit with them.

The Beachboys were experts at reading the ocean—including the waves, tides winds, and currents—as well as fishing and harvesting limu (seaweed). The Beachboys were leaders in the revival of surfing and other watersports in the early 20th century. In fact, without the Waikīkī Beachboys, Hawai‘i’s ancient ritual of surfing may have been forgotten.

The Beachboys were required to adhere to a strict code of conduct that showed great respect for all guests, and they also worked to keep the beach clean and safe.

Indeed, the Beachboys were symbolic of everything that was great about Hawai‘i, and Waikīkī, in particular. Todayʻs Beachboys continue to carry on the time honored tradition of sharing true Hawaiian hospitality with our visitors through surfing lessons, canoe rides, and especially their aloha spirit.

ABOUT THE HAWAI‘I TOURISM AUTHORITY
The Hawai‘i Tourism Authority is responsible for strategically managing the State of Hawai‘i’s marketing initiatives to support tourism. HTA’s goal is to optimize tourism’s benefits for Hawai‘i, while being attentive to the interests of travelers, the community and visitor industry. Established in 1998 to support Hawai‘i’s leading industry and largest employer, HTA continually strives to help ensure the sustainability of tourism’s success.

For more information about HTA, please visit www.hawaiitourismauthority.org. Follow updates about HTA on Facebook, Twitter (@HawaiiHTA) and its YouTube Channel.

ABOUT THE KĀLAIMOKU GROUP (event coordinator)
The Kālaimoku Group is a Native Hawaiian owned integrated marketing and communications firm founded in 2011, and located in Honolulu, Hawai‘i. The Kālaimoku Group serves for-profit and non-profit companies with professional services including Development, Marketing, Communications, Government Relations, Social Media and Event Coordination. For more information, please call us at (808) 221-0991, or visit www.kalaimoku.com.

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